Denmark ‧₊˚. ⸝⸝ 02

Night had settled over the settlement by the time Mathias returned to the great hall, snow beginning to gather along his shoulders as he pushed open heavy wooden doors. Conversation quieted for a moment when everyone looked toward him, waiting to hear what news he carried from the coast.

He removed his cloak and tossed it over a bench, shaking snow from his hair before looking around the room with a grin that seemed far too cheerful for someone who had spent half the evening watching an enemy fleet approach.

“Good news.” Several warriors leaned forward. “We’re probably going to war.” Silence followed. Mathias laughed when several faces immediately fell.

“Oh, come on. You knew that was coming.” He crossed the hall toward you, dropping into the seat beside you with a heavy sigh as soon as he was close enough to stop pretending that his shoulders weren’t aching. “They’ve got more ships than I expected.” His voice lowered so that only you could hear. “And their leader has apparently convinced himself that I’m frightened of him. Which is insulting, really.”

He looked toward the fire, watching flames move between the logs while voices continued around you.